It was a twenty minutes before the Versace part of the fashion show and I was full of nervous energy when Pam leaned over to me,
"There are two of the Backstreet Boys." I look at her,
"Where?" She pointed to the other side of the room and I noticed a few people surrounding Donatella Versace,
"Over there talking to Donatella. She dresses them alot." I never knew that, not that I much cared or there was a reason for that information,
"God when is she going to do something with her hair. It's fucking horrible." Pam giggled but I was comlpetely serious, I wasn't saying it to elicit a laugh. The woman was worth a disguting amount of money and looked like California trash. Hard to pull off when you're not even from this damn country. I stand up, smoothing out my dress,
"What's their names?" Once again that database came in handy,
"Kevin is the tall one, he's one of the married ones and Howie is the other guy. He's single." I look them over from head to toe,
"Nice." She handed me a glass of champagne and it was gone in one long sip. Yeah, I'm only twenty but I've been drinking since fourteen, that Parisian life once again. I caught Donatella's eye and she waves me over,
"Come on." I walked over, Pam right behind me and kissed Donatella on the cheek times two and lightly placed my hand on her hair,
"I love the hair." She smiled,
"You are looking fabulous darling." She fretted with my dress, her own design, for show only, there was nothing wrong with it,
"I would like you to meet Kevin Richardson and Howie Dorough." She looked up at them,
"This is Brehan Locke. She's gorgeous isn't she?" Howie and Kevin both nodded and Kevin shook my hand delicately,
"Yes, very. Nice to meet you Brehan. Beautiful name." Quite the charmer aren't we? Married my ass,
"Hi, nice to meet you..." I let the sentence dangle. Pam told me who was who but Donatella didn't and I didn't want him thinking he was in my memory,
"Kevin." I smiled and removed my hand, extending it to the other so he could have the pleasure as well,
"And that makes you Howie." He smiled,
"Nice to meet you Howie." He nodded,
"And you too Brehan." Donatella placed her arm around Kevin's waist,
"I'm quite lucky to dress the Backstreet Boys aren't I?" I nodded and looked as if I had no idea who they were. Honestly, before Pam pointed them out I didn't know,
"Backstreet Boys? I just met one your other members earlier today." They looked at each other and I nodded,
"Yes, at a photo shoot." Howie smiled,
"Ah you met Nicky." Nicky? The Adam Sandler cartoon suddenly enters my mind and I'm repulsed,
"Nicky?" Kevin nodded,
"Yes, Nick was there for the 50 Most Beautiful for People magazine. So, you're on the list too?" I shake my head,
"No, I guess I'm not beautiful enough, I'll have to settle for sexy I guess. I was doing a Maxim magazine cover." They smiled and I decided it was time to depart,
"Well, I must get ready." They let me know how nice it was to meet me while mentioning that maybe we could hang out. Hang out? What the hell do I look like? Desperate old men wanting to hang out with a kid. I wonder how they would react if they knew how old I am?
After the show, it was all about deciding where I was going to make an appearance. It had to be the right club, the right party, the right people, with the right amount of press at the right time. It was decided that the only place to go would be the Playboy mansion afterparty. There was sure to be enough press and beautiful people. It was Steven, Pam and I in the back of the limo,
"So, how long are we going to be here?" I really wasn't in the mood for alot of partying. If it were up to me, Steven and I would be snuggled in bed watching an old movie or something equally less tiresome.
"I don't know yet Brehan, don't start whining." I glanced over at Pam, who's eyes quickly shifted downward when she saw that I was none too pleased at the way Steven talked to me. When we pulled up I looked in the mirror for one last check of hair and makeup before steeping out of the limo. All I needed was pictures all over of me looking less than glamorous,
"How do I look?" I asked to no one in particular. Of course Steven was busy on his cell phone and Pam answered,
"Amazing. You are going to knock them dead." I sighed,
"Well, if I can't knock em dead in a $10,000 dress, I might as well go work at fucking McDonalds." Pam and Steven stepped out of the car and stepped to the side so that I could make my diva-esque exit. Immediately the cameras flashed, many nights I was subjected to taking pictures so I could endure the bright light and not squint. I smiled as the pictures were snapped, turned in the direction I was told to turn in and no one could tell I wasn't feeling this at all.
No sooner had we entered the party Steven was gone to "network" and I was left to fend for myself. Of course Pam was there but no one who was anyone was seen hobnobbing with their assistant,
"Brehan, you are absolutely breathtaking tonight." I smile at him,
"Thank you baby." He walked off giving me the 'call me' signal with his hand,
"Who was that?" Pam asked as I frown, looking around for something to drink,
"How the fuck should I know." These parties were all the same, everyone was faking; trying to pretend to not look fake even though everyone knew everyone was being fake. It was all such a waste of time,
"Hey, give me one of those." I snatched two glasses of champagne from the waiter's tray. I downed one, placed the empty glass on the tray and filled my empty hand with another glass. This is going to be a long night, I can tell already.
Chapter 7
Stranger Than Fiction
Stories
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